Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar says the delivery of advanced Russian built S-400 air defense missile systems to his country “might be delayed until after June” irrespective of US pressure and threats of imposing sanctions on Ankara over the purchase of the military hardware.

“They may not catch June, but will arrive in following months. The process has started,” Akar said in an exclusive interview with local Turkish-language Haberturk television news network.